Welding apparatus



Dec. 8, 1936. w. H. MARTIN 2,063,258

WELDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1936. w. H. MARTIN WELDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 19.55 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 86 65 fiq r a: l'omwn Dec. 8, 1936. w. H. MARTIN 2,053,253

WELD I NG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "IA "It l Dec. 8, 1936. w. H. MARTIN WELDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 t n W Sum M Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING APPARATUS William H. Martin, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 26, 1935, Serial No. 56,142

16 Claims. (01. 219-4) My invention has for its object to produce a welding apparatus wherein conducting cables for air, water, and electricity commonly used for op erating welders may be, in part, eliminated and whereby such cables as are used may be greatly reduced in size. The invention is particularly advantageous in its application to hand welders and provides means for eliminating air conductors to the welder. My invention provides for the operation of the welder by the liquid used for maintaining the welding points cool and moreover provides the flexibility of. control afforded in the use of pneumatically operated parts.

The apparatus comprises a current-transforming and frequency-changing means that produces a balanced load on the main supply line and transforms a triple phase current of relatively low frequency into a high frequency, single phase current that enables the use of a light weight transformer for transforming a relatively highpotential, high-frequency current into a welding current of low potential and large amperage in a secondary located in close current-conducting relation to the welding points. Consequently, large current-conductive cables, large heat loss, and large potential drop at the welding point are eliminated. The apparatus also comprises a pneumatic-hydraulic pressure booster for hydraulic transmission of pressure to the welder and thus enables the use of a small flexible pipe to transmit an operating pressure to the welder; it enables the use of a very small, light-weight cylinder and piston in the welder for operating the welding point or points and thus further reduces the weight of the welder; and it also enables the use of a secondary that comprises the pressure means that produces the welding pressure, which still further greatly reduces the total weight of the welder.

The apparatus is such as to cause the fluid preferably a liquid-to flow freely in heat conductive relation with respect to the welding point or points and also with respect to the transformer, which may be mounted on the welder, the welding pressure being produced by stopping the free flow of the liquid, which raises its pressure. Since the power-transmitting liquid may also be utilized for cooling the welding points,

its use eliminates the-air conductive pipes commonly used for conducting the air under pressure to the welder to actuate the welder. By reason of. the reduced number of conductors that are used for connecting the welder with fixedly mounted parts, the greatly decreased weight and increased flexibility of the conductors and the decreased weight of the welder, the welder may be rapidly manipulated manually.

The invention also provides a transforming and frequency-changing means wherein a single secondary is used, which simplifies the structure and enables its production at a greatly reduced cost. Also, if desired, the secondary may be provided with a plurality of connecting points to vary the number of turns of the secondary that are utilized and thus vary the potential of the secondary current.

The invention also provides a remotely controlled hydraulic means for producing the welding pressure at the welding point. Preferably the liquid pressure means is pneumatically operated, and the circuit that produces the welding current is controlled in accordance to the pneumatic pressure that is transmitted through the liquid to the piston of the welder to insure the production of a welding pressure during the existence or flow of the welding current. Preferably the pneumatic controlling valve is electromagnetically actuated and is controlled by a switch located on the welder.

The invention consists in other features which will appear from the following description and upon examination of the drawings. Structures containing the invention may partake of diiferent forms and may be varied in their details and still embody the invention. To illustrate a. practical application of the invention I have selected two welding apparatuses as examples of the various structures that contain the invention and shall describe the selected structures hereinafter, it being understood that certain features of the invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of the other features of the invention and without departing from the spirit of. the invention as presented in the claims. The particular structures selected are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections of one embodiment of the invention. Figs. 2 to 10, inclusive, illustrate parts of the apparatus conventionally indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of a current-transforming and frequency-changing means. Fig. 3 illustrates a pneumatic-hydraulic booster. Fig.4 illustrates a. side 5 indicated in Fig. 8. Fig. illustrates a view of the section taken on the plane of the line IO-Il indicated in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, illustrate a modified form of welder used in connection with the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 11. Fig. 12 illustrates a side view of the welder. Fig. 13 illustrates an end view of the welder. Fig. 14 illustrates a longitudinal section of the welder. Fig. 15 illustrates a view of a section taken on the plane of the line IL-I! indicated in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a top view partly in section of the welder illustrated in Fig. 12.

The welding apparatus comprises the currenttransforming and frequency-changing means I. the pressure booster 2, and the welder 3. The apparatus may be connected to a source of supply of triple-phase, alternating current through the main lines 4, I, and 8. The connection with the main lines may be electro-magnetically controlled by a suitable relay switch I that controls the supply of current to the primaries I I. II, and I! of the current-transforming and frequency-changing means I.

The switchis provided with three movable contacts II that connect each of the lines I, I, and i with terminals of the primaries I0, I I, and II, the remaining terminals of the primaries being connected together by the line I8. The switch I is operated by the solenoid or relay magnet II that receives its current from the secondary ll of the transformer 20, the transformer 20 being connected to a pair of the main lines, such as the lines I and 5. The flow of the current through the electro-magnet I I may be directly controlled by the pneumatic-hydraulic booster 2 and is preferably completed when the pneumatic pressure, which is hydraulically transmitted to the welder, reaches a predetermined point. Thus completion of the current from the main lines to the currenttransforming and frequency-changing means I is prevented until the pressure of the welding point, or points, of-the welder, dependent upon the form of the construction, has reached a welding pressure.

If desired, continuance of the flow of the current through-the magnet ll of the relay switch I may be controlled by a timing relay 23 of the form well-known in the art whereby the flow of the welding current, once initiated, will continue for a limited and suillcient period to produce an efilcient weld, the pneumatic pressure means operating sequentially to discontinue the hydraulic welding pressure immediately thereafter. The

timing relay 23 is connected to the secondary I! of the transformer 20 and also to the electromagnet I8 and is controlled in its operation by the pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic-hydraulic booster.

The pneumatic pressure in the booster 2 is controlled by a suitable valve 26 that is normally positioned to exhaust the air from the booster. when operated, the valve connects the booster with a source of supply of air under pressure through the pipe 21. The valve 26 is actuated by means of an electro-magnet 28 that operates on an armature 28. The magnet 28 is connected to the main lines 4 and 5 through the switch ll located on the welder 3. Preferably the switch III is normally resiliently maintained open and is closed to initiate the operation of the apparatus.

The magnet 28 is also connected to the lines 4 5 and 5 through the switch 'I, to maintain the magof the section taken on the plane of the line l-l net 28 energized notwithstanding the release of the switch ll. Thus the magnet 28 is maintained energized until the timing relay II releases the switch I to open the main line. during which time the welding current induced by the transformer 38 flows through the welding points of the welder.

The transformer 33 is mounted on the welder and may be of any of the well-known types. The primary 84 of the transformer 83 is connected .to the secondary ll of the current-transforming and frequency-changing means I. The secondary I. of the transformer a is formed of actuating parts of the welder and preferably constitutes a single turn to produce a large welding current. The transformer shown in Fig. 8 is a ring type. It induces the flow of the current in the parts that constitute the protective shell and the centrally disposed actuating elements of the welder. The welding current is initiated by the operation of the pneumatic-hydraulic booster and is terminated by the opening of the switch I as controlled by the timing relay that opens the circuit of the primary coils of the current-transforming means I.

Connection of the primary coils II, I I, and I! of the current-transforming and frequencychanging means I to the three lines of the threephase circuit produces a balanced load on the main line circuit. The primary coils have, with respect to the cross-sectional area of the cores ll, 4 l, and 42, a suilicient number of turns to produce super-saturation of the cores, and'consequently, the secondary coil II, which encloses the magnetic circuit of each of the cores, transforms the triple phase of the current of the main lines into a single phase current having a frequency triple that of the main lines.

The secondary ii is connected to suitable contacts 43 preferably arranged in an are that is centered at the pivot point of a movable contact 44 whereby the desired number of turns of the secondary may be included in the circuit of the primary is of the transformer a located on the welder to vary the voltage produced by the secondary II of the current-transforming and frequency-changing means I. The current-transforming and frequency-changing means I may, together with the electric elements that control it, such as the transformer 20, the timing relay II, and the switch I, be mounted in a suitable fixed position and may be electrically connected by means of the lines'" to the primary ll of the transformer mounted on the welder I. The potential or the secondary is relatively high, and consequently the lines 4! may be correspondingly small and flexible to enable ready manipulation of the welder.

As is well known, welders are commonly operated by air pressure and are commonly connected by means of air pipes with a source of supply of air under pressure to produce a welding pressure of the welding points on the work. Also the welding points are commonly water-cooled by water that freely flows through pipes that lead to and from the welding points. In order to establish the required air pressure to operate the welder considerable time is required to build the air pressure up to the welding pressure because of the compressibility of air and the necessary flexibility and consequent expansibility of the air conducting pipes, which delays the period in which the welding pressure is produced and reduces the number of welds that may be made in a given time. When a liquid is used for transmitting pressure, small pipes that are more flexible per unit of expansibility may be used. The liquld, particularly water, has no compressibility,

and consequently there is practically no delay in pressure transmission. The period of the flow oi the welding current through the welding points constitutes an exceedingly short period relative to the time in which there is no flow or the current, and ii the liquid flows in heat conductive relation to the welding points during the period when there is no flow of welding current, it is ample to maintain the welding points cool even though the welder is operated at a maximum rate.

The invention provides means for utilizing the cooling liquid also for the transmission of pressure from a fixed point to the welder, which is moved from point to point along the work in its use. Thus the invention eliminates the use of air conductors for producing the welding pressure. The invention also provides means for utilizing the flexibility of control inherent in pneumatically operated devices by producing pneumatically a liquid pressure in the cooling stream to operate the welder and cool the welding points. The pneumatically operated, liquid pressure booster may be remotely controlled by means located on the welder. Thus, the pneumatically operated part of the booster may be constructed to cause initiation of the flow of the welding current when the liquid pressure rises to a certain point. This prevents any flow of the current ii there is any defect in the operation of the liquidtransmitting means and insures the production of a welding pressure in advance of and during the flow of the welding current and termination of the pressure subsequent to or upon the cessation of the iiow oi the current.

The booster 2 is preferably fixedly mounted and is provided with a cylinder 48 that is connected to a source of air under pressure through a pipe 21. The movement of the air under pressure to the cylinder 48 is controlled by the valve 26. The valve 26 is provided with a pair of heads 48 and 58 which are adapted to seat upon the ends of a sleeve 5| to permit the air to flow through the pipe 21 to the cylinder 48 or to permit the air to flow from the cylinder. The head 58 is provided with a socket in which a spring 53 anda rod 54 are located. The spring 58 operates to cushion the pressure of the rod 54 produced by the operation of the lever 55, a part of which forms the armature 28 of the magnet 28. when the magnet 28 is energized, the armature 28 is pulled down quickly, which presses the rod 54 axially with respect to the heads 48 and 58. The spring 53 yieldingly transmits the pressure of the rod 54 to move the heads 49 and 58. The head 48 is moved from its seat against the pressure created by the source of supply of air under pressure to admit air into the cylinder 48 as the head 58 closes the outlet of the sleeve 5|. The head 58 is channeled in its outer surface, and consequently when the magnet 28 is de-energized and the valve is released, the pressure of the air on the head 48 moves the valve to close the head 48 against its seat and to remove the head 58 from its seat and permit the pressure within the cylinder 48 to return to atmospheric, the excess air being allowed to flow through the channels formed in the head 58 to the exterior atmosphere.

The piston 58 located in the cylinder 48 is formed to have two telescoping parts. Preferably the piston rod 58 is provided with a socket 58 in which is located the head 62 or a bolt 6| secured at one end to the piston 58. The bolt 6| is slidably supported in a bushing 88, and a spring 64 is located intermediate the head 82 and the bottom or the socket. A contact 51 is insulatingly supported on the piston 58, and the bushing 83 forms a coacting contact for grounding the circuit from the contact 6'! through the instrument. The booster 2 may be insulatingly supported by suitable insulating material 55 and may be connected at any point by means of a line 68 to the timing relay 23. The contact 51 is connected in the circuit by means of a spring 18 which presses against the contact 81 and an insulatingly supported contact 1| that is connected to a source of supply of electric current, such as to the secondary H of the transformer 28 by means of the line 12. The spring 18 yieldingly resists the movement of the piston 58 and operates normally to maintain the parts of the piston rod 58 in their more extended positions and at the same time to conduct the current from the contact ll to the contact 81; while the spring 64 is a relatively high pressure spring and operates to prevent movement or parts of the piston rod 59 relative to each other until the pressure produced at the end of the piston rod has built up to a pressure such that the pressure of the spring 64 will be overcome to enable telescopic movements of the parts of the piston rods and cause the contact 61 to make contact with the bushing 83 to ground the circuit to the booster and thus complete the circuit through the timing relay 23,

which in turn closes the circuit of the main lines 4, 5, and 5 through the switch I and produces the flow of the welding current in the transformer 33.

The liquid is normally allowed to flow freely through the cylinders and in heat conductive relation to parts of the welder until a welding pressure is to be transmitted to the welder. The flow of the liquid may be in either direction.

When the welding pressure is exerted, its free flow is restricted in order that the pressure may be quickly transmitted. The piston rod 58 is connected to a second piston 14 located in the cylinder 15, and preferably the liquid normally flows first through the passageways in the welder and the cylinder that operates the welder and then to the cylinder 15 of the booster 2. cylinder 15 has an outlet for the liquid through the pipe 16 that may be connected to a drain or lead to a suitable reservoir. The cylinder 15 is formed integral with the head ll of the cylinder 48, and the outlet port through which the liquid leaves the cylinder 15 is located contiguous to the head 11. The liquid enters through a small, flexible pipe 18 that communicates with the cylinder I5 through a port located at the end of the cylinder that is remote from the head 11. The pipe 18 is connected to the cylinder 88 located on the welder 3. The cylinder 88 is provided with a piston 8| that actuates the welding point. The cooling liquid flows from the welding points to the cylinder 88 and through a passageway 82 formed in the welder that communicates with the cylinder 15.

Thewelding point of the welder is operated by the pressure produced by the piston 14 in the cylinder 15 and transmitted to the liquid in the cylinder 88. If desired, the cylinder 88 may have a diameter larger than that of the cylinder 15 to correspondingly increase the pressure produced in the cylinder 88 and correspondingly decrease the length of the stroke of the piston 8|, but preferably the cylinder 88 and the cylinder have the same diameter, multiplication of pressures being produced by the difference in diameters of the pistons 58 and id. E y reason of the high pressure produced by the booster 2, the cylinder 80 is relatively small in diameter, its dimensions, however, being such as to obtain the required current-conductive area conducive to minimum size and weight and to translate the required pressure.

The welding point is supported on and actuated by the movement of the piston BI. The piston 8I preferably substantially fits. throughout its length, the interior of the cylinder 80 and is provided with a suitable gasket or cup washer 83. The piston is connected with a block or frame 84 which has an extension 85 located in the slot 86 formed in the body of the welder. The frame 84 extends across the cylinder and carries a welding point at one end in position to engage the work. When the welding point engages the work, the pressure on the work reacts to press opposite ends of the piston against the cylinder wall by the torque produced by the frame 84 and thus insures a good electric contact pressure during the welding pressure to enable free flow of the welding current.

For purposes of insulation the sides of the extension 85 are spaced from the sides of the slot 88. The frame is guided in its movement by a rod 81 that is insulatingly connected to the extension 85. The rod 8'! extends into a socket 88 formed in the body of the welder and is resi1 iently returned from its extreme outward movement by means of the spring 89, which surrounds the rod 8i and is located between a suitable plate or plug located at one end of the socket and the head 90 of the rod. Where two welding points are used to clamp the work. the spring may be located intermediate a welding point supporting bracket SI and the head 90.

The piston 8I has a passageway 93 that extends axially through the length of the piston and the frame 84 to which the piston is connected and to the well formed within the welding point 95, which is carried by the frame 84. The frame 84 also has a passageway 94 that connects the weld ing point 95 to a flexible connector 98, which enables the movement of the liquid through the welding point 95 and movement of the welding point 95 relative to the welding point 91 supported on the bracket 9i. The connector 96 connects with the passageway 88 that communicates with the well formed within the welding point 91, and the passageway 99 connects the well of the welding point with the port 100 located in the handle of the welder where the welder is connected to a suitable source of liquid supply. The liquid normally freely flows through the wells of the welding points 9! and 95 and through the piston BI and the cylinder 80 of the welder and through the cylinder I5 of the booster.

When the piston 14 is moved along the cylinder 55, it first operates to close the outlet port of the cylinder and cause cessation of the flow of the cooling liquid. The pressure that normally causes the fiow of the liquid is immediately raised. Also as the piston 74 moves outward with the usual quick movement produced by the air pressure on the piston 58, the pressure in the cylinder 80 is also raised by the resistance to the flow of the liquid in the extended restricted passageways located in the welder. To immediately and further raise the pressure in the cylinder 80 to pro duce the welding pressure, the welder is preferably provided with an additional pressure means for preventing the outward flow of the liquid from the cylinder 80. The escape of the liquid through the piston 8| may be stopped by means of a pressure-operated valve I03 that operates to close upon an abnormal rise in pressure in the cylinder 80. If the normal flow is from the welder to the booster, the valve is quickly closed by the reverse flow of the liquid in the cylinder caused by the pressure transmitted from the booster to the welder. The valve I03 is normally held open by a light spring I04 but is overcome and the passa eway 53 closed by the valve upon a slight rise of ressure of the liquid in the cylinder. The valve I03 is positioned intermediate the end of the cage I05 located on the end of the piston, and the spring I04 is located in a large bored part formed in the piston M in alignment with the passageway 83. The valve maintains the passageway closed. until the pressure in the cylinder I 80 is reduced to the pressure that produces the normal flow of the liquid, which occurs upon the complete return of the piston I4 in the cylinder I5. The return of the piston I4 opens the outlet and permits the normal flow of the liquid from the source of supply through the welder to the booster.

The movement of the piston I4 thus forces the piston BI outwardly and forces the welding point 95 against the work, the work being located between the welding points 95 and 91. When the pressure rises to a welding pressure, the outer end of the piston rods are held, the resistance of the spring 64 is overcome, and the circuit of the timing relay 23 is completed at the contact 61.

The timing relay 23 maintains the pressure as well as the current flow, since it maintains the circuits closed. The relay 23 automatically opens the circuit of the magnet I8, which opens the circuit of the magnet 28. De-energization of the magnet 28 releases the valve 26 and permits the return of the piston 58 by the operation of the spring I and also permits the return of the piston 8I by the operation of the spring 88. This operates to again permit free flow of the liquid through the cylinders I and 80 and the passageways of the welder to cool the welding points.

The primary 34 of the transformer 33 is located in a shell I08 and surrounds the cylinder 80. The cylinder 80 is provided with a flanged part I09, and the shell I08, the flange I09, and the handle H0 are secured together by suitable bolts III. The shell I08, the cylinder 80, and its piston 8| are preferably formed of copper and constitute the secondary of the transformer. The primary is wound on the laminated ring or core 32. Since the frame 84 that carries the welding point 95 is connected to the piston 8i, and the bracket 9| that supports the welding point 9! is connected to the shell I08, the welding points 55 and 9! form the terminals of the secondary, and by reason of the large cross-sectional areas of their supporting parts, there is practically no potential drop in the secondary of the transformer. Preferably the welding points are located at one side of the center linc trough the transformer 33 to produce a lateral pressure of the piston 8| against the cylinder 80 by the pressure of the welding point 85 against the work and thus produce a contact pressure according to the welding pressure. A suitable insulating plate II2 of fibrous material may be located at the outer end of the shell and cylinder of the welder and clamped in position by an annular part II3 of the bracket SI.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 11 is of a form that may, if desired, be readily mounted on a transportable structure or vehicle and moved to any building or region or any part of a factory and readily connected to a source or supply of electric current at any convenient point in an electric system. It may be provided with a tank I23 containing a liquid, such as water. A positive high pressure pump I2I may be located in the reservoir or tank I 20 and electrically driven by an electric motor I22. The motor may be connected with the main electric lines, such as the lines 5 and 3, by means of the switch I23 and its connecting lines. The welder I24 may be similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 10 or of any other suitable form, such as that shown in Figs. 12 to 16 and indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 11 and operated by the pressure produced by the pump I The welder may be connected to the reservoir I28 and the pump I2I by means of the flexible pipes I25 and I28.

The liquid is dire ted to the cylinder I21 of the welder through the pipe I25. Preferably the passageways in the welder conduct the liquid in heat conductive relation to the welding points I28 and I28 to remove the heat from the welding points in the interim between the welding operations. A valve I. 2 is located on the welder for manual operation to restrict the passageway leading through the return pipe I28 to the reservoir or tank I20 and thereby raise the pressure in the cylinder I21 for producing a welding pressure on the work.

A suitable pressure switch may be located in the circuit of the liquid so as to be operated according to the pressureproduced at'its point of connection to close an electric circuit for causing the flow of the welding current through the welding point when the pressure reaches a pre- 7 determined amount. The welding current through the welding points may be thus caused to flow only during the period that the pressure of the welding point I28 on the work is above the required welding pressure. The pressure switch I38 indicated in Fig. 11 is spring pressed by means of the spring I31 that may be adjusted by suitable adjustable means I38 to produce switch operations at desired predetermined pressures. The switch may be operated by a suitable pressure means I38 such as a diaphragm or piston and cylinder or bellows interiorly connected to the pipe connecting the pump I2I with the welder I24. The switch I38 may be electrically connected to the lines 4 and 5 of the source of supply of alternating current for completing the circuit of the main line relay switch 1. The relay solenoid or magnet I8 of the switch 1 may be located in the circuit of the switch I35, and thus the flow or the current through the magnet I8 is controlled by the pressure produced by the pump I2I as controlled by the valve I32. The magnet operates the contacts I4 to connect the main lines 4, 5, and 8 with the current-transforming and frequency-changing means I.

The welder I24 may be provided with the primary and secondary similar in form to those shown in the Figures 1, 2, and 8, or it may be provided with a form of transformer shown in Figs. 12 and 15. In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 11 to 16, the primary I40 of the transformer I is connected to the .currenttransforming and frequency-changing means I, and the secondary I42 is connected to the welding points I28 and I28. When the currenttransforming means I is connected to the source of supply of alternating current by the operation of the switch I38, a welding current is caused to flow through the work and the welding points I28 and I28 when the pressure of the liquid in the cylinder I21, and consequently the pressure of the welding points on the work have been raised to the required welding pressure. The current continues to flow until the valve I32 is released, and the restriction to the flow of the liquid from the cylinder I21 to the reservoir or tank I 20 is reduced, which reduces the pressure on the pressure switch I38, which opens the switch. Thus the flow of the current through the secondary discontinues in advance of the reduction of the pressure of the welding point in the work below that of a welding pressure.

In the form of welder shown in Figs. 12 to 16, the transformer I is of the usual core type, having a laminated core I45 assembled within the primary coil I40. The secondary I42 comprises the centrally located lug I48, the shell part I41 to which the lug I48 is integrally connected, the cylinder I21 formed integral with the shell part I41, and the piston I48, which throughout its length flts the interior of the cylinder.- A bracket I48 is electrically connected to the lug I48. The welding points I28 and I28 are located, one on the end of the bracket I48 and the other on the piston I48. The pressure in the cylinder I21 is controlled by the valve I32, which may be located in the handle I50, which may be secured to the shell part I41.

The welder is provided with suitable passageways that conduct the liquid in heat conductive relation with respect to the welding points I28 and I28 and the parts of the transformer I. The passageways communicate with the flexible pipes I25 and I28 that are connected to the handle I50. The liquid flows through the pipe I25, and through certain of the passageways to the cylinder I21 and from the cylinder I21 to the flexible conductor I28 that returns the liquid to the reservoir or tank I20.

The flexible pipe I25 communicates with the passageway I53 which extends through the handle I50, the lug I48, and the bracket I48 to the well formed within the welding point I28. The flow of the liquid from the welding point I28 is through a pasageway I 54 that communicates with the flexible connector I55 which connects the bracket I48 with the outer end of the piston I48, where the liquid enters the well in the welding point I28 and from whence it flows through the passageway I58 that extends preferably axially through the piston I 48 and communicates with the interior or the cylinder I21. The cylinder I21 is connected by the passageway I51 that extends through the handle I50 in which is located the valve I32 for restricting the outflow of the liquid from the cylinder I48 through the passageway I51. The outlet part of the passageway I51 communicates with the flexible pipe I28 through which the liquid flows to the reservoir or tank I20 when the valve I32 is open.

When the valve I32 is opened, there is a free flow of the liquid through the passageways and through the welding point, which operates to cool the welding points and the parts of the transformer.

Preferably the piston I48 is provided with a cup-washer I for preventing the escape of the liquid about the piston. The core I45 and the primary I40 may be enclosed by means of the insulating plate IGI and the enclosing insulating sheet I82 that surrounds the core I45. The bracket I48, the insulating plate I8I, the shell I82,

and the shell I41 may be secured together by means of the electrically insulated bolts or tie rods I64. The handle I50 may be connected to the shell I41 by means of the screws I85.

The piston I58 is connected to a rod or bolt I66 located in a socket I61 formed in the cylinder frame. The socket I81 may be closed by a suitable threaded plug I68. A spring I69 surrounds the rod I66 and is located intermediate the plug I68 and the heal I10 of the bolt. The bolt I66 is connected to the piston I48 by a yoke MI. The bolt I66 may be loosely slidably supported in the plug I88, the bolt and its spring being located at one side of the cylinder I21. The welding points I28 and I29 are also located in displaced relation with respect to the axis of the cylinder I21 and the spring I69 which is located at one side of the plane of the axis of the cylinder and the welding points I28 and I28 yieldingly counteracts the pressure of the liquid in the cylinder I21, coacting to produce a torque'in the piston I48 which presses the lateral surface at the ends of the piston against the interior cylindrical surface of the cylinder I21 and thus produces a high electric contact pressure for free conduction of the current through the cylinder to the piston.

The valve I32 may be formed slightly conical and seated in a socket having a corresponding conical surface formed in a part of the handle I50. The socket may be closed by a suitable cover. The valve may be suitably pressed by a suitable pressure disc located intermediate the movable valve member and the cover in the manner well known in the art. Also the valve I32 is provided with a suitable trigger member I13, spring pressed by means of the spring I14 to produce a bias to wards a valve-open position. The trigger member may be set into a suitable recess, and the surfaces of the recess may be located so as to limit the play of the trigger I13 as pressed by the spring I14.

In each form of the invention selected for illustrative purposes, the transformer that induces the welding current from the high frequency current of the primary is exceedingly light in weight. The welding points are positioned in close proximity to the transformer, which greatly increases the electrical efllciency of the welder. The welder is operated by pressure of the liquid that flows in heat conductive relation to the welding point, which reduces the number of connections commonly used for connecting welders with fixed parts of the apparatus. The welder may be operated by sources that produce high liquid pressures, which enables the use of a small, light weight cylinder and piston for operating the welding point and may be connected to the welder by light weight, flexible lines. The connections that are used are greatly reduced in their weight and may have greatly increased flexibility. In addition the secondary that produces the welding current is formed in part by the cylinder and piston that produce the welding pressure, and consequently the weight of the welder is correspondingly further reduced. Also the current-transforming and frequency-changing means produces a balanced load on the line and triples the frequency of the line, which enables the use of a light weight transformer on the welder. Also the production of a relatively high potential in the secondary of the current-transforming and frequency-changing means enables the use of small, light weight wires to connect the current-transforming and frequency-changing with the transformer on the welder. Thus, there is produced an exceedingly light weight welder that may be readily connected to the fixed parts of the appsratus by light weight, flexible lines, and consequently the welder may be readily manipulated manually to produce welds at a rapid rate.

I claim:

1. In a welder, a cylinder, and a piston, a welding point operated by the pressure in the cylinder,

.the welder having a passageway for conducting fluid to the cylinder and in heat-transmitting relation to the welding point, a valve located in the said passageway on the inlet side of the cylinder and normally biased to open position and closed by increase of pressure of fluid in the passageway, a pressure means on the outlet side 0! the cylinder for raising the pressure in the passageway to operate the valve and actuate the welding point.

2. In a welding system, a welder, a combined pneumatic and hydraulic booster hydraulically connected to the welder, means located on the welder for remotely controlling the booster, a source of supply of liquid, the welder having a cylinder and piston hydraulically connected to the booster and to the source of supply of liquid and through which the liquid normally freely flows, a welding point connected to the piston, the welder and the hydraulic booster having coacting means for closing the passageway to transmit pressure through the liquid from the booster to the piston of the welder upon the operation 0! the booster.

3. In a welder, a cylinder, and a piston, a welding point operatively connected to the piston, a transformer, the primary of the transformer inductively located with respect to the cylinder, the cylinder forming a part of the secondary of the transformer, means for conducting the secondary current to the welding point, the welder having a means for conducting liquid through the cylinder and in heat-transmitting relation to the primary and secondary of the transformer and the welding point, a pressure means for raising the pressure of the liquid in the cylinder for actuating the piston and pressing the welding point against the work.

4. In a welding system, a source of supply of electric current, a welder having a welding point, a cylinder and a piston for operating the welding point, a primary of a transformer inductively located with respect to the cylinder and piston for producing a secondary welding current through the cylinder, the piston and the welding point, a source of supply of liquid, the welder having passageways for conducting the liquid through the cylinder and the piston and the welding point, means for restricting the flow of the liquid from the cylinder for raising the pressure in the cylinder to operate the welding point.

5. In a welder, a cylinder and a piston, a welding point operated by the pressure of the cylinder, the welder having a passageway for conducting liquid through the cylinder and the welding point, means for closing the inlet and outlet of the said passageway, and means for raising the pressure in the said passageway for operating the piston.

6. In a welder, a cylinder and a piston, a welding point operated by the pressure in the cylinder, the welder having a passageway for normally conducting liquid through the cylinder and in heat transmitting relation to the welding point to cool the welding point, means for closing the inlet and outlet of the said passageway, and means for raising the pressure intermediate the inlet and outlet of the said passageway to raise the pressure in the cylinder for pressing the welding point against the work.

7. In a welder, a cylinder and a piston, a welding point connected to the piston and operated by the pressure in the cylinder, a primary of a transformer located in inductive relation to the cylinder for producing a secondary welding currentthrough the cylinder and the welding point, the welder having a passageway for normally conducting liquid through the cylinder and the welding point for maintaining the cylinder and the welding point cool, means for closing the inlet and outlet of the passageway with respect to the said cylinder, a pressure means for raising the pressure of the liquid in the said cylinder for pressing the welding point against the work, and means operated by the pressure means for producing a flow of an electric current through the primary of the transformer.

8. In a welding system, a source of supply of electric current, a welder having a welding point, a cylinder and piston for operating the welding point, and a transformer inductively located with respect to the cylinder and piston for producing a secondary welding current through the cylinder, the piston, and the welding point, a source of supply of liquid under pressure, the welder having passageways for conducting liquid through the cylinder, the piston, and the welding point, means for restricting the flow of the liquid from the cylinder for raising the pressure in the cylinder to operate the welding point, means for producing a flow of the secondary current when the pressure of the welding point on the work reaches a predetermined point.

9. In a welding system, a welder having a transformer, a welding point, and a hydraulically operated means for operating the welding point, a combined pneumatic and hydraulic booster hydraulically connected to the hydraulically operated means of the welder and pneumatically operated, a source of supply of air under pressure connected to the booster, and a source of supply of liquid under pressure connected to the hydraulically operated means, a source of supply of electric current connected to the transformer, and a means located on the welder and connected to the booster for connecting the transformer to the source of electric current when the pressure of the welding point on the work reaches a predetermined point.

10. In a welder, a primary of a transformer mounted on the welder, a cylinder, the wall of the cylinder forming part of the circuit of the secondary of the transformer, a piston operated by the pressure in the cylinder, a welding point, a source of supply of liquid under pressure, means for conducting the liquid through the cylinder, the piston, and the welding point for removing the heat therefrom, means for restricting the flow of the liquid through the cylinder for raising the pressure in the cylinder to operate the welding point, a pressure switch operated according to the pressure of the liquid in the cylinder for connecting a transformer with a source of supply of electric current and producing a welding current through the cylinder, the piston, and the welding point when the pressure of the welding point against the work reaches a predetermined point.

11. In a welding system, a welder having a hydraulically operated means comprising a cylinder and a piston, a welding point operated by the pressure in the cylinder, 9. combined pneumatic and hydraulic booster hydraulically connected to and pneumatically operated, a source of supply of air under pressureconnected to the booster and a source of supply of liquid under pressure connected to the-"hydraulically operated means, means operated by the booster for closing the liquid connection on the outlet side of the booster and the inlet side of the hydraulically operated means, and means for connecting the source of supply of air under pressure to the booster for transmitting pressure through the entrapped liquid.

12. In a welding system, a welder having a hydraulically operated means comprising a cylinder, a piston operated by the cylinder, a welding point connected to the piston, and a transformer inductively located with respect to the cylinder to produce a welding current through the cylinder, the piston, and the welding point, a combined pneumatic and hydraulic booster hydraulically connected to the cylinder and pneumatically operated, a source of supply of air under pressure connected to the booster and a source of supply of liquid under pressure connected to the cylinder, means operated by the booster for closing the liquid connection on the outlet side of the booster and the inlet side of the cylinder, means for connecting the source of supplyof air under pressure to the booster for transmitting pressure through the entrapped liquid from the booster to the cylinder, and means operated according to the pneumatic pressure in the booster for directing a current through the transformer to produce a flow of a welding current through the cylinder and the welding point.

13. In a welder, a cylinder and a piston, a welding point operated by the pressure of the cylinder the welder having a passageway for normally conducting liquid through the cylinder and the welding point, means for restricting the flow of the liquid from the cylinder, and means for raising the pressure in the cylinder for operating the pis-' ton when the flow is restricted.

14. In a welding system, a source of supply of electric current, a sourcev of supply of liquid, a welder having a welding point, a cylinder and a piston for operating the welding point, the welder having a passageway for conducting the liquid through the cylinder and the welding point, means for raising the pressure of the liquid in the cylinder, an electric switch, means for operating the switch when the pressure of the liquid reaches a predetermined point for causing a flow of a welding current through the welding point.

15. In a welding system, a source of supply of electric current, a source of supply of liquid under pressure, a welder having a welding point, a cylinder and piston for operating the welding point, the cylinder having a passageway for conducting the liquid through the cylinder and the welding point, means for restricting the flow of the liquid through the cylinder for raising the pressure in the cylinder, a pressure-operated switch, means for operating the switch according to the pressure of the welding point on the work for causing a flow of a welding current through the welding point when the pressure of the welding point on the work reaches a predetermined point.

16. In a welding system, a welder having a cylinder and a piston, a welding point operated by the pressure in the cylinder, a pneumatically operated hydraulic booster hydraulically connected to the cylinder of the welder for operating the welding point, means located on the welder for remotely controlling the booster to raise the pressure in the cylinder, the booster, the cylinder, and the welding point having a passageway for normally conducting free flowing liquid through the booster, the cylinder, and the welding point, and

. 8 2,oes,2sa

means operated by the pressure produced by the booster for restricting the out-flow of the liquid from the cylinder when the booster is operated to raise the liquid pressure to operate the piston and the welding point.

WILLIAM H. MARTIN. 

